Vote processing in a public switched telephone network

ABSTRACT

A method, system and apparatus for vote processing in concert with a PSTN. In accordance with the present invention, a method for vote processing in a PSTN can include receiving a vote from a calling party over the PSTN. Caller information for the calling party can be retrieved from the PSTN. Subsequently, the vote can be validated based upon the caller information. Finally, the vote can be processed based upon the validation. For instance, the vote can be tallied if the calling party is validated as not having previously voted. In contrast, the vote can be rejected if the calling party is determined to have previously voted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Statement of the Technical Field

The present invention relates to telephonic polling and voting, and moreparticularly to automatic processing of dial-in votes through a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN).

2. Description of the Related Art

The intelligent network of today bears little semblance to the PSTN ofold. In fact, the term “intelligence” has little to do with theoperation of the conventional PSTN. Rather, the conventional PSTN of oldincorporates a massive complex of switching matrices and transporttrunks that, through the electronic equivalent of “brute force”, forgethe interconnections necessary to call completion. More particularly,for decades for every call processed the PSTN relied upon eachsuccessive switch to route a voice signal to the next. Still, the modernvolume of calls processed within the conventional PSTN demands a faster,more streamlined approach to call routing.

To overcome the elements of the brute force aspect of the conventionalPSTN, physically separate signaling networks have been grafted upon thetransport and switching PSTN elements to oversee call set-up andbilling. These “out-of-band” adjuncts speed routing data and commandsdirectly to the switches involved, establishing all the necessary linksprior to the actual transmission of a call. Consequently, with“out-of-band” signaling the PSTN has become “conscious” of theoperations it is to perform prior to their execution. As a result, thePSTN has become a more flexible beast, capable even of substantiallogic.

The development of the “out-of-band” protocol, Signaling System 7 (SS7),has led to the widespread deployment of intelligent network technology.In SS7, signaling links transmit routing packets between switches.Consequently, specialized SS7 Signaling Transfer Points (STPs) appearedto shepherd routing messages from local switches onto a high-capacitypacket switches for distribution to other switches, STPs andcall-related databases, such as the Line Information Database (LIDB),the Local Number Portability (LNP) database, the Toll Free Callingdatabase and other databases containing additional call routinginstructions. And, so, the agility of high-speed computer networkingbegan exerting control over the raw power of the PSTN.

The marriage of convenience between SS7 and the PSTN soon produced theAdvanced Intelligent Network (AIN)—an architecture where centralizeddatabases control call processing. Logic ported via STPs to selectswitches now have become widely distributed throughout the network.AIN-capable switches also have begun to function as interactivesignaling-platforms. Equipped with resident software triggers, AINcapable switches now can halt a call in progress long enough to queryService Control Points (SCPs)—databases containing service logic andsubscriber information—which can provide instruction as to how to route,monitor, or terminate the call. The PSTN of today now effectivelyincludes long-term memory as well as intelligence. Accordingly, themodern local exchange carrier holds the means to deploy such advancedtelecommunications features such as telephone number portability,wireless roaming, call waiting and a host of other subscriber options.

The LIDB is a database configured for coupling to the PSTN through anSCP. The LIDB typically includes amorphous records arranged to storeinformation regarding telephone callers, such as the name of the caller,the address of the caller, billing information for the caller, and thelike. By storing invariable information regarding the caller, such asthe name, address and billing method, many intelligent telephonicservices can be provided over the PSTN through a simple query to theLIDB. In this regard, several local exchange carriers have deployedindependent LIDB access services to facilitate the deployment ofintelligent telephonic services which can exploit the invariantinformation stored within the LIDB.

Despite the wealth of information associated with a telephone callerstored in the LIDB, the LIDB seems to remain an untapped resourcesuitable only for advanced telephony billing applications. Accordingly,many conventional inconveniences remain prevalent in the world of thecall center. For instance, vote processing and poll processing systemshave become prevalent among the consuming public. It is not uncommon fornews programs to invite viewers to “vote” their opinion regarding a newsitem by dialing into a call center to place a vote by strikingpre-specified keys (or audibly specifying a vote). Similarly, popularmedia entertainment programs often invite the viewing audience totransmit a “dial-in” vote for a contestant to win a prize. Votes aretallied in these circumstances according to the sheer number of votesreceived without regard to the identity of the caller.

For some survey and polling applications, it would be preferable toassociate a vote with a person. In this regard, duplicate votes arepossible where a mere counter tracks the progress of a vote or poll. Incontrast, where an identity is associated with a vote, no duplication ispossible. Nevertheless, in the modern call center maintaining aninternal database of all possible callers so as to be able to identify acaller based upon the caller ID telephone number of the caller can beunwieldy and impractical. Moreover, callers often can block theidentification of a call which would defeat the identification of thecaller in the call center. Thus, to date, it is not realistic toassociate the identity of a caller with a vote in a voting or pollingsystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the art in respectto polling and voting systems and provides a novel and non-obviousmethod, system and apparatus for vote processing in concert with a PSTN.In accordance with the present invention, a method for vote processingin a PSTN can include receiving a vote from a calling party over thePSTN. Caller information for the calling party can be retrieved from thePSTN. Subsequently, the vote can be validated based upon the callerinformation. Finally, the vote can be processed based upon thevalidation. For instance, the vote can be tallied if the calling partyis validated as not having previously voted. In contrast, the vote canbe rejected if the calling party is determined to have previously voted.

The receiving step can include receiving at least one answer to a pollquestion over the PSTN. Further, the receiving step can includereceiving a voice vote over the PSTN. The receiving step yet further caninclude the step of receiving a DTMF-based vote over the PSTN. Finally,the receiving step can include decoding a vote based upon a dialedtelephone number over the PSTN. In any case, in a preferred aspect ofthe invention, the retrieving step can include receiving a datacommunications message from a name resolution adapter disposed withinthe PSTN and extracting an identity for the calling party from themessage. In this regard, the retrieving step can include querying a LIDBthrough the name resolution adapter for an address for the callingparty.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspectsof the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elementsand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It isto be understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof the this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred,it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system, method and apparatusfor vote processing in a PSTN according to the inventive arrangements;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a system for vote processing usingcaller identities acquired within the PSTN; and,

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for vote processing in thesystem of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for voteprocessing through a PSTN. In accordance with the present invention, theidentity of a calling voter can be determined in the PSTN. Concurrently,a vote by the calling voter can be accepted in the voting system. Usingthe identity of the calling voter, the vote placed by the calling votercan be validated. For instance, it can be determined in the votingsystem whether the calling voter had previously voted. If the callingvoter can be validated, the vote can be tallied in the voting system.Otherwise, the vote can be ignored. In this way, utilizing informationstored in the PSTN, a more precise form of public voting and polling canbe realized, particularly without the threat of multiple votes receivedfrom the same person.

In further illustration, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a systemand method for vote processing through a PSTN according to the inventivearrangements. Specifically, a calling voter 130 can be coupledtelephonically to a voting system 140 by way of the PSTN 110. The votingsystem 140 can be configured to process votes, including selections forpolling questions, from the calling voter 130 over a telephonic linkageprovided by the PSTN 110. Preferably, the voting process can beconducted audibly, the through the use of DTMF input processing throughthe operation of an interactive voice response system 145, or through anidentification of specifically dialed telephone number or extension,although the invention is not so limited to the precise arrangementshown in FIG. 1.

The voting system 140 can include a vote validation processor 150coupled to a data store of registered voters 165. The data store ofregistered voters 165 can include registered voter information useful invalidating the votes by calling voters. Exemplary data can include thenames of voters, addresses of voters, specific voter identificationcodes and the like. Using the information disposed in the data store ofregistered voters 165, the vote validation processor 150 can validate acalling voter 130 based upon voter data 155 for the calling voter 130.Where the calling voter 130 can be validated, the vote or votes of thecalling voter 130 can be added to the vote tally 175.

In operation, as the calling voter 130 initiates the telephone call inthe PSTN 110, a name resolution adapter 180 disposed within the PSTN 110can capture caller identifying data 190 for the telephone used by thecalling voter 130 in order to identify the calling voter 130. Using thecaller identifying data 190, the name resolution adapter 180 can producespecific identification data for the calling voter 130, for instance aname, address, phone number, credit card number, or account number, toname a few. In this regard, the name resolution adapter 180 can queryone or more databases disposed within the PSTN 110, including a LIDB, toobtain the specific identification data based upon the calleridentifying data 190.

When the specific identification data has been acquired, the specificinformation can be encapsulated in a caller information message 170 andprovided to an enterprise application 160 associated with the votingsystem 140 over the data communications network 120. Concurrently, thecall between the calling voter 130 and the voting system 140 can beestablished over the PSTN 110 and one or more votes or selections can bereceived in the voting system 140. Importantly, using the callerinformation 170, the voter data 155 can be determined and provided tothe vote validation processor 150. The vote validation processor 150 inturn can validate the vote or votes received by the calling voter 130using the information stored in the data store of registered voters 165to determine whether to add the vote or votes to the vote tally 175.

To further illustrate the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a system for voteprocessing using caller identities acquired within the PSTN. As shown inFIG. 2, a system for providing automatic call completion in a directoryassistance system utilizing billing data computed from locationinformation acquired within the PSTN can include one or more telephonicswitches 230 coupled to one another within a PSTN 200. Each of theswitches 230 can be communicatively linked to a service switching point(SSP) 220 coupled to an out-of-band signaling network comprised of amultiplicity of signal transfer points (STP) 210. Each STP 210 can becross-connected to other ones of the STPs 210 in the PSTN so as to forman inter-network of switched communications links to support out-of-bandsignaling as is well-known in the art.

One or more switchless nodes each referred to as an SCP 240 can becommunicatively linked to the out-of-band signaling network via one ofthe STPs 210 as is well-known in the art and embodied within the SS7signaling network. The SCP 240 can be coupled to one or more databases260A, 260B, 260 n which can be configured to store invariant data suchas the name, address and billing information for callers. For example,the databases 260A, 260B, 260 n can include a local number portability(LNP) database, a LIDB, or any other such database which can be accessedwithin an SCP 240.

Notably, as is well-known in the art, the information stored within thedatabases 260A, 260B, 260 n can be stored in amorphous records innothing more than a flat file database, an object database or arelational database. In any event, through the communicative linkagesbetween the SCP 240, the STP 210 and the databases 260A, 260B, 260 n,transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) messages can beprocessed in the SCP 240 to access the invariant data in the databases260A, 260B, 260 n. In this way, calls processed through the switch 230can access logic in the SCP 240 and data in the databases 260A, 260B,260 n through the SSP 220.

Notably, a name resolution adapter 250 can be coupled to the out-of-bandnetwork comprised of inter-connected STPs 210 to access data and logicthrough the SCP 240 through an exchange of messages such as TCAPmessages. The name resolution adapter 250 can include a gateway node 250having both an interface to the PSTN 200 and also an interface to a datacommunications network 270 such as an Internet Protocol driven network.In this way, data received through the PSTN 200, and more particularlyfrom accessing the databases 260A, 260B, 260 n in the PSTN 200 can bepassed within IP packets to an enterprise application 280 over the datacommunications network 270. Also, as the enterprise application 280 canbe coupled to a switch 230 within the PSTN 200 through an associatedadapter, data disposed within the databases 260A, 260B, 260 n regardingan incoming call can be processed within the enterprise application 280.

In operation, the name resolution adapter 250 can monitor calls placedto a switch 230 to which the enterprise application 280 has beencoupled. As calls are received in the switch 230, the name resolutionadapter 250 can receive respective TCAP messages from the STP 210coupled to the switch 230. Using the TCAP messages, the name resolutionadapter 250 can create additional TCAP messages to query the LIDB 260Bto identify the callers. For each TCAP message querying the LIDB 260B,the LIDB 260B can return the identity of the caller, for instance thecaller's name, or other identification such as caller's address. Oncethe name resolution adapter 250 has received the identity of the callerfrom the LIDB 260B, the name resolution adapter 250 can transmit theidentity to the enterprise application 280 over the data communicationsnetwork 270. The enterprise application 280 subsequently can correlatethe caller identity received from the name resolution adapter 250 with acorresponding call received through the switch 230.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, vote validation andprocessing logic 290 can be coupled to the enterprise application 280.The vote validation and processing logic 290 can be configured tovalidate telephonically received votes based upon calling voterinformation disposed within the identity information provided by thename resolution adapter 250. Using the acquired calling voterinformation, the vote validation and processing logic 290 can determinewhether the calling voter had previously voted, whether the votes placedpreviously by the calling voter have changed, whether the calling voterhad previously selected or provided a specific vote for a specificvoting question, and other such similar voting pertinent considerations.

In further illustration, FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a processfor vote validation and processing in the system of FIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 3, beginning in block 310, an incoming call can be detected in thePSTN and processed in the vote registration and validation system. Inthis regard, the incoming call can be processed in a switch in the PSTNin block 320 concurrently with the connection of the incoming call tothe called party in block 340. More particularly, in block 320, callerinformation, including the address of the caller, can be retrieved froma database disposed within the PSTN, for instance a communicativelycoupled LIDB. Subsequently, in block 330, the retrieved callerinformation can be forwarded to the enterprise system associated withthe vote registration and validation system.

Within the vote registration and validation system in block 350, one ormore votes or vote question selections can be received. Concurrently, inblock 360 the caller information received from the PSTN can be parsed toextract the identity of the calling party. In block 370, using thecaller identity the received votes can be validated. For example, it canbe determined whether the calling voter already has submitted votes forthe particularly question, whether the received votes differ frompreviously provided votes, to name a few. In decision block 380, if thevote or votes can be validated, in block 400 the vote or votes can betallied. Otherwise, in block 390 the vote or votes can be rejected.

The present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software. An implementation of the methodand system of the present invention can be realized in a centralizedfashion in one computer system, or in a distributed fashion wheredifferent elements are spread across several interconnected computersystems. Any kind of computer system, or other apparatus adapted forcarrying out the methods described herein, is suited to perform thefunctions described herein.

A typical combination of hardware and software could be a generalpurpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loadedand executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out themethods described herein. The present invention can also be embedded ina computer program product, which comprises all the features enablingthe implementation of the methods described herein, and which, whenloaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods.

Computer program or application in the present context means anyexpression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructionsintended to cause a system having an information processing capabilityto perform a particular function either directly or after either or bothof the following a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b)reproduction in a different material form. Significantly, this inventioncan be embodied in other specific forms without departing from thespirit or essential attributes thereof, and accordingly, referenceshould be had to the following claims, rather than to the foregoingspecification, as indicating the scope of the invention.

1. A vote processing method for use in a public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of: receiving a votefrom a calling party over the PSTN; retrieving caller information forsaid calling party from the PSTN; validating said vote based upon saidcaller information; and, processing said vote based upon saidvalidation.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving stepcomprises the step of receiving at least one answer to a poll questionover the PSTN.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving stepcomprises the step of receiving a voice vote over the PSTN.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said receiving step comprises the step ofreceiving a DTMF-based vote over the PSTN.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein said receiving step comprises the step of decoding a vote basedupon a dialed telephone number over the PSTN.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein said retrieving step comprises the steps of: receiving a datacommunications message from a name resolution adapter disposed withinthe PSTN; and, extracting an identity for said calling party from saidmessage.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said retrieving stepcomprises the steps of querying a line item database (LIDB) through aname resolution adapter disposed in the PSTN for an address for saidcalling party.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing stepcomprises the steps of: tallying said vote if said calling party isvalidated as not having previously voted; and, rejecting said vote ifsaid calling party is determined to have previously voted.
 9. A voteprocessing system in a public switched telephone network (PSTN), thesystem comprising: a telephone subscriber database disposed in a switchin the PSTN; a name resolution adapter disposed in the PSTN and coupledto said telephone subscriber database; and, a vote processing andvalidation system disposed externally to the PSTN and communicativelylinked to said name resolution adapter over a data communicationsnetwork.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said telephone subscriberdatabase is a line item database (LIDB).
 11. The system of claim 9,further comprising an interactive voice response system disposed in saidvote processing and validation system and configured for interactionwith calling parties.
 12. A machine readable storage having storedthereon a computer program for vote processing in a public switchedtelephone network (PSTN), the computer program comprising a routine setof instructions which when executed by a machine cause the machine toperform the steps of: receiving a vote from a calling party over thePSTN; retrieving caller information for said calling party from thePSTN; validating said vote based upon said caller information; and,processing said vote based upon said validation.
 13. The machinereadable storage of claim 12, wherein said receiving step comprises thestep of receiving at least one answer to a poll question over the PSTN.14. The machine readable storage of claim 12, wherein said receivingstep comprises the step of receiving a voice vote over the PSTN.
 15. Themachine readable storage of claim 12, wherein said receiving stepcomprises the step of receiving a DTMF-based vote over the PSTN.
 16. Themachine readable storage of claim 12, wherein said receiving stepcomprises the step of decoding a vote based upon a dialed telephonenumber over the PSTN.
 17. The machine readable storage of claim 12,wherein said retrieving step comprises the steps of: receiving a datacommunications message from a name resolution adapter disposed withinthe PSTN; and, extracting an identity for said calling party from saidmessage.
 18. The machine readable storage of claim 12, wherein saidretrieving step comprises the steps of querying a line item database(LIDB) through a name resolution adapter disposed in the PSTN for anaddress for said calling party.
 19. The machine readable storage ofclaim 12, wherein said processing step comprises the steps of: tallyingsaid vote if said calling party is validated as not having previouslyvoted; and, rejecting said vote if said calling party is determined tohave previously voted.